If you have a loved one who is mentally ill and they are a danger to themselves, there are places they can be involuntarily committed so they can receive help.
However, in Washington state if the illness is drug or alcohol addiction this option does not exist.
A bill being considered in Olympia would change this. It’s called Ricky’s Law. Lauren Davis came up with the idea for it back in 2012. Her friend, Ricky Garcia, lay dying at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Davis stood watch over Garcia as a ventilator pumped air into his chest after another spiral into drugs fueled yet another suicide attempt.
Davis said the psychiatrist in the room looked at Ricky and told him, “'I’ve seen three people die of the disease that you have. If we were in another state and I could commit you involuntarily for addiction treatment then I would, but my hands are tied in Washington.' My heart broke day. It broke for Ricky and it broke for every family that ever had to feel so helpless and so small.”
In Washington state, it is legal to commit an adult or a minor to a locked detox facility for substance abuse treatment. The problem is, no such facility exists here.*
John Gahagen, who lost his 17-year-old son to a drug overdose shared his story and recounted experiences from other parents, like Gina Burrell, at a hearing in Olympia. According to Gahagen, Gina Burrell was told to find help for her daughter somewhere else.
“In Gina’s words, 'I remember a counselor telling us that the best action would be to hire someone from Idaho to come pick up Zoe in the middle of the night and take her across state lines.' That would have cost $20,000,” said Gahagen.
Ricky’s Law would require the state to come up with $15 to 20 million a year to build and operate seven facilities for adults and two for children. Studies show that treatment would save the state millions by preventing future visits to emergency rooms.
As for what happened to Ricky Garcia? He survived. He’s been clean and sober for more than three years.
*Correction: An earlier version of this story said there are two locked detox facilities in Washington State, for adults. This is true. However these programs require consent from the patients and do not handle cases involving patients who are incapable of seeking treatment themselves.
